This study aimed to understand the motor competence (MC) level of Czech school-age children determined using the product-oriented Bruininks--Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (second edition) and to analyze the gender and age differences. The MC level in n = 637 children aged 6.0--11.0 years (46.6% girls) was evaluated using total motor…

Educationally-oriented measures of handwriting fluency--tasks such as written alphabet recall and sentence copying--conflate graphomotor skill and various higher-level abilities. Direct measurement of pen control when forming letters requires analysis of pen-tip velocity associated with the production of sub-letter features that, in a skilled…

This study's objective was to examine whether the relationship between actual motor competence and physical activity (PA) in children is mediated by perceived motor competence (PMC) and physical activity enjoyment. The participants consisted of a total of 167 students (male = 92, female = 75) in 10 different schools in the fourth grade of primary…

Research Findings: Fluent and legible handwriting is associated with longer texts and higher text quality and is therefore an important goal in the primary school curriculum. While girls' handwriting tends to be more proficient than boys', potential differences in the correlates of girls' and boys' early handwriting are poorly understood. In this…

Graphomotor and handwriting disabilities (GD and HD, respectively) could significantly reduce children's quality of life. Effective remediation depends on proper diagnosis; however, current approaches to diagnosis and assessment of GD and HD have several limitations and knowledge gaps, e.g. they are subjective, they do not facilitate…

Background: Motor development of many children in rural areas of South Africa is compromised because of various socio-economic factors, hence, the need to address these developmental needs. Aim: To examine the immediate and sustainable effects of a 9-week movement programme on fundamental movement skills (FMS) of school children. Setting: Seven to…

This study sought to examine the influence of transcription skills, evaluated using graphonomic measures, on the proficiency of text generation in students attending primary schools in Spain. A longitudinal design was employed involving 278 Spanish students distributed across three cohorts (cohort 1: 1st-2nd-4th grade; cohort 2: 2nd-3rd-5th grade;…

This study aims to examine the factors that influence the motor abilities of elementary school students. The following aspects were explored: 1) The influence of social identity on students' motor abilities. 2) The influence of self-concept on students' motor abilities. 3) The influence of learning motivation on students' motor abilities. 4) The…

This study is related to the transfer of the header motor skill in soccer from a virtual reality (VR) sport's training to the real world. A total of 61 children (37 females) between 9 and 11 years of age were distributed into three groups: a control group without training; a second group that was trained in an original VR environment developed by…

Background: Researchers continue to investigate the predictive validity of motor assessment in learners with disorder of attention, motor control and perception (DAMP). Aim: Determine the prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD); assess their association in Grade 1 children. Setting:…

Purpose: This research examined the effects of a freestyle jump rope unit on students' jump rope proficiency, agility, balance, inhibitory control, physical activity level, and perceived enjoyment. Method: One hundred and nine third and fourth graders were randomly assigned to the video-led (VID), teacher-led (TEA), or control group. A 30-s jump…

Fine motor skills (FMS) are among the most studied nonlinguistic factors influencing early literacy acquisition. Although developmental studies have often supported the presence of a relationship between FMS and emergent literacy, the underlying mechanisms have not always been adequately explored. In this study, we used structural equation…

Background: Around 800 million young children worldwide have cognitive-developmental limitations due to issues related to biological, environmental, and psychosocial factors. These problems lead to educational challenges, limited skill development, and higher unemployment rates. Therefore, timely interventions addressing the underlying problems in…

Developing children's FMS and executive function is a critical aspect of early childhood. The aim was to evaluate the fundamental movement skills (FMS) and executive function. The objectives were to investigate the locomotor and object control skills as well as inhibitory control and working memory of the selected children. Grade 1 (6-8-years-old)…

Children's motor competence (MC) levels tend to be low, and the investigation of variables that facilitate skillfulness is an important concern. The socioecological model is a useful framework to explore factors that influence MC and to inform the development of targeted interventions. This cross-sectional study aimed to perform an exploratory…